Share on Facebook

A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Here’s How to Charge Your Phone Faster

You're ready to start your day and oh no! Dead cell battery. Fortunately, there's help. Here's how to charge your phone faster.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

1 / 14
man phone stressedAS photo studio/Shutterstock

You’re just about to head out for the day and grab your phone—but you notice you forgot to charge it and your battery power is in the single digits. Here’s how to charge your phone faster, or at least make sure you don’t lose any more power. Make sure you know the 10 ways you’re shortening the life of your phone.

2 / 14
phone airplane modeymgerman/Shutterstock

Switch into airplane mode

A quick way to keep the battery from draining so quickly is to switch it into airplane mode. You won’t be able to get texts or search online, but you’ll save power because your phone won’t be constantly searching for a cellular or WiFi connection. This is what could happen if you don’t put your phone on airplane mode during flights.

3 / 14
turn off phoneLittlePigPower/Shutterstock

Turn it off

There’s no better way to make sure all the power goes directly to your battery than making sure there’s no competition for it, or leave your phone in low power mode. You can find it in settings on an iPhone or on Android phones, it’s known as battery saver mode.

4 / 14
phone charge wall wire cordBig Foot Productions/Shutterstock

Plug it into a wall socket

The USB port of your computer may be convenient when you’re working remotely, but an outlet will charge your phone faster. “This is because USB ports usually only charge at 0.5 amps, so it’s going to take twice the time to charge your phone than the 1 amp power adapter it came with,” according to Asurion. Plus, here’s why you shouldn’t charge your phone in your car.

5 / 14
An iPhone charger is plugged into a lamp in a hotel roomNicole S Glass/shutterstock

Use a powerful wall charger

It can also be helpful to have a charger that works faster than the one that comes with your phone. Just find an outlet, plug the charger in, and connect it to your phone. HTC’s Rapid Charger is a popular choice. However, make sure you know these 8 places where you should never charge your phone.

6 / 14
phone charge wireFabrikaSimf/Shutterstock

Keep a charged battery pack handy

For those situations when you know you’re going to be far from a traditional power source, buying a battery pack is a good idea. Just make sure to plan for it in advance, so you can charge the battery pack before you leave. After knowing how to charge your phone faster using this method, find out about some phone battery myths you should stop believing.

7 / 14
phone beach sand womanGorynvd/Shutterstock

Get your phone out of the sun

Avoid exposing your phone to temperatures 95 degrees and higher, Apple advises. The heat can damage your battery capacity. In fact, your phone’s software may limit charging to about 80 percent when the phone gets hotter than the recommended temperature. Here are 7 ways to cool down an overheating phone.

8 / 14
wooden phone caseMr.Note19/Shutterstock

Take your phone out of the case

If you notice that your phone gets hot when you charge it, Apple suggests taking it out of its case before you charge it. “Charging your device when it’s inside certain styles of cases may generate excess heat, which can affect battery capacity.”

9 / 14
phone plug cord wireKaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock

Clean out your lightning port

The problem may not be with the power of your battery itself. Over time, lint and dust can accumulate in your lightning port and clog it. (That’s where you plug your charger into your phone.) CNET recommends turning your phone off and using a toothpick to gently remove any debris from the port. Then plug in your charger again and see if it works better.

10 / 14
laptop macExtarz/Shutterstock

Use your Mac’s power adapter or iPad charger

If you have an iPhone, you can plug it directly into Apple 12W and 10W USB power adapters, according to Apple. Connect your device to the power adapter with the USB to Lightning cable or 30-pin to USB cable. Then find out about some iPhone hacks you never knew about.

11 / 14
wireless chargerSkrypnykov Dmytro/Shutterstock

Get a powerful wireless charger

For a quick juice boost, look for a charger with high wattage. “The higher the number of watts, the faster your device will charge,” Macworld reports. The typical chargers that come with iPhones and older Android phones carry one amp of current and produce five watts of power, according to the consumer blog Techlicious. But “new rapid chargers with technology such as Quick Charge support two amps and 12 watts or more, potentially charging your phone up to four times faster.”  After you look into this top-rated wireless charger (or this one), check out more cell phone accessories that will make your life easier.

12 / 14
tech wires phone chargeMXW Stock/Shutterstock

Use an Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable

Got a half-hour to spare? If you have an iPhone 8 or later and an adapter, Apple’s USB-C Lightning Cable will allow you to charge your battery up to 50 percent of capacity. It’s compatible with Apple 18W, 29W, 30W, 61W, or 87W USB-C Power Adapter.

13 / 14
phone wireless charge padDaniel Jedzura/Shutterstock

Get a wireless charging pad

Though wired charging is faster, wireless charging is also a good option. The Samsung Wireless Charging Pad can work with phones including the iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy S8, Techlicious notes.

14 / 14
An Apple Smart Battery CaseJoby Sessions/Future/Shutterstock

Invest in a charging case

For an ongoing solution to keeping making sure you can charge your phone quickly, consider getting a charging case. Some models, such as the Apple Smart Battery Case, can extend your battery’s life for 22 hours. They come in a range of prices and designs. Are you someone who likes to take your phone on adventures? Some of the cases are made with protective materials. Now that you’re all charged up and know how to charge your phone faster, find out some places you should never leave your phone.

Jen McCaffery
Jen McCaffery covers money, tech, products, health and safety for Reader's Digest and other publications and websites. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s growing veggies or trying to figure out the way home from assorted trails.